Posted on 01/01/2008 5:32:21 PM PST by Norman Bates
LONDONDERRY, N.H.—Republican presidential contender John McCain told voters Monday that the nation needs a leader, not a manager.
The comment was directed at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, whom McCain is close to surpassing heading into the final week before the New Hampshire primary.
Though he didn't name names, McCain clearly had Romney in mind when he faced a voter who noted that few senators have been elected president and quizzed him about his executive and administrative experience. Romney, a former venture capitalist, often points to his management of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics as an example of his executive skills.
"I spent 22 years in the United States Navy. I led -- not managed -- I led the largest squadron in the United State Navy, over a thousand people and hundreds of millions in assets," McCain said. "I'll put my leadership -- not management -- but leadership credentials up against anybody's."
McCain said given the challenges the nation faces, particularly fighting terrorism overseas, now is no time for on the job training.
"I think it's fine to have been a governor, I think it's fine to have been a mayor, but I've been involved, and you judge me by my record, in every national security issue and challenge facing this country for the last 20 years," he said.
With most of his rivals in Iowa, McCain has spent the last four days in New Hampshire and will be here for most of next week as he tries to slingshot his campaign forward. He won the state in 2000 by 19 percentage points over then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush and now hopes his scrappy campaign can again defeat a well-funded rival, this time Romney.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
“Can you see the picture of McCain campaigning on the trial with President Bush for S.S. in 2005? Well, that’s where he was. He campaigned with Bush. And by a rather remarkable stroke I was able to rebut humorously your suggestion that he didn’t even raise a finger!”
Yes, you posted a picture of McCain at a PR event with the President. And the picture showed McCain with a finger(index for a change)”raised”.
You may think it’s funny that McCain(and others, to be sure) didn’t do their jobs as far as Social Security reform goes. I don’t find it all that humorous.
He just doesn’t tell you he was guarding the strawberries.
“Water boarding is torture no matter what sort of denial you or Romney may wish to use.”
That’s an opinion. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Oh, and Romney was right not to declare it “torture” in a debate.
McCain, the NYTimes Editorial Page’s favorite Republican, of course, thinks it is “torture”.
“He lost not one, but two aircraft.”
So what? Many great pilots have lost several aircraft. There is no dishonor in being shot down in combat especially if there’s little you can do about it. Facing SAMs is not exactly a safe career move.
“Was at the bottom of his class.”
Not true. He graduated. Are you suggesting that those who met the requirements of gradution should not be graudated because they are near the bottom of the class? If you are suggesting that there would only be one graduate - at the top.
“His family has a past regarding slavery”
Since almost all conservatives are against reparations because they punish the living for the sins of their ancestors - in that same respect - your comment is way off mark and uncalled for.
“He married into a rich family like Kerry.”
And what’s your point?
“McCain hasn’t led anything that I know of.”
McCain was a career officer in the Navy. Leading was the name of the game.
“Some people claim (falsely in my opinion) that both George W Bush and Dick Cheney are also draft dodgers. So far as I know neither of them broke any law to evade military service, and neither did Rudolph Giuliani. In my opinion, you are just engaging in name-calling.”
Thanks for jumping in.
The first thing to remember is that most ranking military officers these days got there by being good staff officers with connections (managers), not by being real leaders of men in the field for long periods. Although I don’t believe that McCain in any way led anyone while in the Navy he is absolutely correct. We are electing a leader and NOT a manager. Bush has been a leader only in the WOT and even there has not always lead. On most everything else he has been a manager. Managers manage things, leaders lead people. Mitt the twit is supposedly a great manager. Fine, let him manage the commerce department. The rest of the dems and pseudo-dem republicans are worthless as leaders. I’ll go for FDT who doesn’t pretend that corporate weasel management experience makes a candidate qualified to be president.
Trouble is — McCain has been “leading” in the wrong direction for decades....
I haven’t forgotten his ludicrous position on Amnesty for Illegal Aliens, or Campaign Finance Reform, the Gang of 12, his support of Kerry while under a truth attack from the SBVFT, or his attack upon the same true warriors.
His sorry performance on the Senate POW/MIA issue leading to opening trade with Vietnam was enough to deny him ANY public office of trust - including the one he currently holds.
It is McCain that must be led BACK onto the RIGHT path...
Can folks name me a sufficient number of bills, acts or measures that McCain authored or put his full weight behind that warrants his claim of “Leadership” that we should respect?
That “PR event” was the President’s tool to educate the nation. If Bush didn’t think it was important why was he doing it? You asked where he was - I told you. You need to lighten up, FRiend.
McCain’s geometric precision, of course. Where’s the strawberries?
“Are you ready to admit that you were wrong about McCain and his support for President Bush’s Social Security reform proposal?”
What was I wrong about, Hon? That McCain never did anything in the Senate to reform SS?
Guess what? He never did.
Apology accepted.
McCain has to answer for support for amnesty as well as campaign finance reform, which hurt the country but helped Soros.
See post 117.
“My point would be that we avoid ever getting to the ticking time bomb scenario, because if it ever gets that far and waterboarding is the only thing between us and a ticking mass casualty attack we’re already screwed.”
In my opinion you are both just evading the issue. We currently accept that we well might kill millions of foreign civilians in some circumstances, but you and John McCain insist that we must treat our captives well in ALL circumstances. I’m of the opinion that protecting and saving American lives is the #1 job of our President. I sure hope the President can do that by being nice to everyone; but I’m not absolutely certain that will be possible.
It sounds like you put the most negative possible spin on McCain you can. That’s your call. I used to feel in a similar manner as you. Then I took a step back and looked at the BIG picture. We will need to look at the big picture this year or we will lose to Hillary.
lol
“Romney talking down to John McCain on torture is the schoolchild backtalking the teacher. It’s laughable.
My point would be that we avoid ever getting to the ticking time bomb scenario, because if it ever gets that far and waterboarding is the only thing between us and a ticking mass casualty attack we’re already screwed.”
We don’t agree.
Please give me a scenario under which we would be killing millions of foreign civilians.
How in God’s green earth, on a conservative site can ANYONE defend this turd McCain? He teams with Kennedy time and again to F over America and people here want to reward him for that! He is pro-amnesty, any way you call it, and to deny this only shows THEIR mental instability as well as his.
I hate this cranky old ba$tard and will NEVER vote for “Strawberries” McCain.
“That “PR event” was the President’s tool to educate the nation. If Bush didn’t think it was important why was he doing it? You asked where he was - I told you. You need to lighten up, FRiend.”
I actually think McCain should master his day job before asking for a promotion - silly me.
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